Israeli warplanes violated the sound barrier three times over Beirut in less than 30 minutes today, causing loud sonic booms that sent people in Beirut running for shelter before a speech by the Secretary-General of Hezbollah. Warplanes flew at a low altitude over Beirut today, and witnesses reported being able to see the aircraft with the naked eye, resulting in the loudest sonic explosions heard by residents in years. The planes flew just minutes before Hezbollah's Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah was set to deliver a speech to mark a week since the killing of Fouad Shukr.